What is the mission of St. John’s?
Our mission is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to our parish, North Shelby County, and beyond! We are committed to saving the lost, and praying for and serving our neighbors, no matter what their church background may be.
Is St. John's a Bible-based church?
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God. It is central to our faith and worship. Readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, Gospels, and Epistles form an important part of our worship every Sunday.
Is St. John's an Episcopal church, and what does that mean?
St. John's is a part of the Reformed Episcopal Church in the orthodox Anglican tradition — a continuation of the oldest Christian form of worship in the English-speaking world. Our worship is meant to be a pleasing performance for God, rather than entertainment that reflects the preferences and tastes of secular society.
What is worship like?
We follow a liturgy — an orderly series of prayers, Bible readings, hymns, and responsive readings. The priest delivers a sermon, which is followed by the the highlight of worship: Holy Communion. Communion is so important to us that we partake every week, and in fact sometimes we refer to the entire worship service as "Holy Communion".
Will I experience anything unusual in worship?
One thing you may find surprising is our use of incense. Besides being a biblical tradition that represents the sweet aroma of Christ’s presence in worship, it completes a worship experience that engages all five senses. We see the cross, hear the Word preached, touch the bread, taste the wine, and smell the incense. All of these experiences help set our worship apart as special and holy. "For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name..." (Malachi 1:11)
You will also notice that people cross themselves at certain times during worship. This is one of the most ancient practices of the church and illustrates the importance of the cross to Christians. It serves as a reminder that only through the sacrifice that Christ made for us on the cross do we appear justified in God's eyes.
I'm used to a "pastor" or "minister"; why do you have a "Father"?
Because Holy Communion is the focus of our worship, and Christ's sacrifice there takes the place of Old Testament sacrifices in the temple, it is natural that we have a priest. Our priest, sometimes called a rector, is affectionately referred to as "Father" (sometimes abbreviated "Fr.") because we look to him for spiritual counsel and advice in the same way a child looks to his natural father for counsel and advice. In turn, he cares for us as a father, demonstrating God's love for us.
Isn't the sermon supposed to be the highlight of worship?
Some churches revolve around the personality of the pastor or minister. You will find that in an Anglican church, Christ and the altar are the focus. Our priest is there as a facilitator. We do have a sermon on Sunday morning, but everything in worship points to and culminates in Holy Communion.
Who can take Communion?
Communion is freely offered to all baptized Christians, from any branch of Christ's church.
How do we take Communion?
We take Communion as Jesus and his disciples did at the Last Supper, by sharing a common cup. After the priest blesses the bread (wafers) and wine, we kneel at the communion rail, where we first receive the wafer with cupped hands. We are free to either eat the wafer and then sip from the cup, or by holding the wafer, we signal to the priest that we would like him to dip the wafer into the wine for us.
Do Anglicans kneel during worship?
Generally speaking, we sit to hear the Word of God, stand to sing, and kneel to pray. Kneeling in prayer is an ancient gesture of humility, and if you have never before knelt to pray together with a group of believers, you will find it to be a very moving experience. If kneeling would be difficult for you for physical reasons, you are welcome to sit instead.
What is the Book of Common Prayer, and why use it when we have the Bible?
The Book of Common Prayer does not take the place of the Bible, but instead ensures that our worship is Biblical. The vast majority of the prayer book is actually comprised of selections from the Bible, arranged so that we are sure to read essential portions of scripture during the course of the year. The prayer book simply helps us worship in a meaningful and orderly way, together as one body.
The Book of Common Prayer is the oldest worship tradition in the English language. The prayer book was first written in the 16th century when the English-speaking church ended the practice of worship in Latin. There have been minor revisions over the years, but if anyone who is familiar with our worship service of today could travel back in time and worship in an Anglican church of 400 years ago, he would feel very much at home. This commonality in worship ties us to English-speaking Christians throughout the world and throughout time. Note that we use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, rather than the 1979 Book of Common Prayer used by the Episcopal Church USA, which is a major departure from the past.
I have other questions not covered here.
We will be happy to answer any other questions you may have. Please feel free to contact Father Houser at any time.